"Of Monkeys and Men"

The brain sciences are providing new means of investigating brain processes involved in decision making. However, our ability to understand decision-making at the computational level requires methods unsuitable for use in humans. Here I argue that monkeys are attractive models of human decision-making, and that single-cell recordings in monkeys can provide insight into decision processes. I explore a number of objections to the relevance of monkey data to understanding human decision-making, including the importance of language and consciousness, and argue that none undermines the applicability of the model, though some may limit it. Finally, I'll briefly address the relevance of studies of decision-making to questions of free will.

"DeFreuding Implicit Attitudes"

Psychologists and philosophers treat implicit attitudes such as implicit racism as automatic and unconscious mental states. In this talk, I present a competing view about the nature of these psychological constructs: I argue that attitudes are, not mental states, but traits, and that as a consequence it is erroneous to speak of implicit attitudes. I show that this view is better supported by the empirical evidence.